Part 8

‘Lord god, what is beste, So I{es}u me helpe, Est or Weste, I Can not Rede to {say}. 1540 Yf I to the shipp fare, No shipmen~ ffynd {I} thare; It is long, sith they were away. Other wayes yf I wend, Wyld bestis wyƚƚ me shend: 1545 Falshede, woo worth it aye! I ffyght here, I{es}u, for thy sake; [1560] Lord, to me kepe thou take, As thou best may!’

[Linenotes: 1540. _say_] _done_ MS. 1542. _And no_ MS. _I_] om. MS.]

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[Sidenote: He baits his steed. The Norse Giant prepares to fight.]

Down~ light this gentiƚƚ knyght, 1550 To Rest hym~ a lituƚƚ wight, And vnbrydelid his stede And let hym~ bayte on~ the ground, And aventid hym~ in~ that stound, There of he had gret nede. 1555 The Gyaunt yode and gaderid stone And sye, where the knyght gan~ gone, [1570] Aƚƚ armed in dede; f. 102a. And wot ye weƚƚ and not wene, Whan eyther of hem had other sene, 1560 Smertely {they} rerid her dede.

[Linenotes: 1553. _bayte_] _hym_ add. MS. 1561. _they_] om. MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT GETS ASSURANCE FROM HEAVEN.]

(135)

[Sidenote: Torrent prays to Christ, and is cheerd by a voice from Heaven.]

For that s{ir} Torent had hym sene, He worth vppon his stede, I wene, And I{es}u prayd{e} he tiƚƚ: ‘Mary son~, thou here my bone, 1565 As I am~ in venturus s{t}ad come, My jurnay {to} fuƚƚ-ffyƚƚ!’ [1580] A voys was fro hevyn~ sent And said: ‘Be blith, s{ir} Torent, And yeve the no thing yƚƚ, 1570 To ffyght with my lordys enemy: Whether that thou lyve or dye, Thy mede the quyte he wyƚƚ!’

[Linenotes: 1566. _sad_ MS. 1567. _to_] _than_ MS. 1573. _He wylle quyte the thy mede_ MS.]

(136)

[Sidenote: The Giant advances against Torrent.]

Be that the giaunt had hym dight, Cam~ ageyn~ that gentiƚƚ knyght, 1575 As bold as eny bore; He bare on~ his nek a croke, [1590] Woo were the man~, that he ou{er}toke, It was twelfe ffote and more. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘ffor charite, 1580 Loke, curtes man~ that thou be, Yf thy wyƚƚ ware: I haue so fought aƚƚ this nyght With thy II dragons wekyd and wight, They haue bett me fuƚƚ sore.’ 1585

[Headnote: THE NORSE GIANT, WERAUNT, WOUNDS TORRENT.]

(137)

[Sidenote: The Giant says he’ll punish Torrent for killing his 2 Dragons and his Brother Cate.]

The Geaunt said: ‘Be my fay, Wors tyding{es} to me this day [1600] I myght not goodly here. Thorough the valey as thou cam~, My two dragons hast thou slan~, 1590 My solempnite they were. f. 102b. To the I haue fuƚƚ good gate; For thou slow my brother Cate, That thou shalte by fuƚƚ dere!’ Be-twene the giaunt and the knyght 1595 Men myght se buffett{es} right, Who so had be there. [1610]

[Linenote: 1590. _slayne_ MS.]

(138)

[Sidenote: The Giant’s crook cuts through Torrent’s shield to his flesh, and sticks there.]

Sir Torent yaue to hym~ a brayd; He levid that the aungeƚƚ said, Of deth yaue he no{ught}. 1600 In to the brest he hym~ bare, His spere hede lefte he thare, So eviƚƚ was hitt {bythought}. The Giaunt hym ayen~ smate Thorough his sheld and his plate, 1605 In to the flesh it sought; And sith he pullith at his croke, [1620] So fast in to the flesh it toke, That oute myȝt he gete it nought.

[Linenotes: 1600. _nought_] _no dynt_ MS. 1603. _byth._] _mynt_ MS.]

(139)

[Sidenote: Torrent throws his shield and the Giant’s crook into the water. The Giant goes in after them and is drowned.]

On hym~ he hath it broke, 1610 Glad pluckys there he toke, Set sadly and s{a}re. Sir Torent stalworth satt, Oute of his handys he it gatt, No lenger dwellid he th{a}re. 1615 In to the water he cast his sheld, Croke and aƚƚ to-geders it held, [1630] Fare after, how so euer it ffare. The Geaunt folowid w{i}t{h} aƚƚ his mayn~, And he come never quyk agayn~: 1620 God wold, that so it ware.

[Linenotes: 1612. _sore_ MS. 1615. _there_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT SLAYS THE NORSE GIANT, WERAUNT.]

(140)

[Sidenote: Torrent rides to the Giant’s castle,]

Sir Torent bet hym~ there, f. 103a. Tiƚƚ that this fend did were, Or he thens wend. On hym had he hurt but ane, 1625 Lesse myght be a mann{us} bane, But god is fuƚƚ hend: [1640] Thorough grace of hym, that aƚƚ shaƚƚ weld, There the knyght had the feld, Such grace god did hym~ send. 1630 Be than it nyed nere hand nyȝt~, To a casteƚƚ he Rode right, Aƚƚ nyght there to lend.

[Linenote: 1626. _But lesse_ MS.]

(141)

[Sidenote: and finds a fair Lady there. Torrent asks for a night’s lodging.]

In the casteƚƚ found he nought, That god on the Rode bought; 1635 High vppon~ a toure, As he caste a side lokyng, [1650] He saw a lady in her bed syttyng, White as lylye ffloure; Vp a-Rose that lady bryght, 1640 And said: ‘Welcom~, s{ir} knyght, That fast art in stoure!’ ‘Damyseƚƚ, welcom~ mut thou be! Graunt thou me, for charite, Of one nyghtis so{i}oure!’ 1645

[Linenote: 1645. _socoure_ MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT IN THE GIANT WERAUNT’S CASTLE.]

(142)

[Sidenote: The Lady says the Giant Weraunt will kill him.]

‘By Mary,’ said that lady clere, ‘Me for-thinkith, that thou com~ here, [1660] Thy deth now is dight; For here dwellith a geaunt, He is clepud Weraunt, 1650 He is {to} the deviƚƚ be-taught. To day at morn~ he toke his croke, Forth at the yat{es} the way he toke, And said, he wold haue a draught; f. 103b. And here be chambers two or thre, 1655 In one of hem I shaƚƚ hide the, God the saue ffrome harmes right!’ [1670]

[Linenotes: 1650. _Weraunt_] _weraumt_ (?) MS. 1651. _to_] _of_ MS.]

(143)

[Sidenote: Torrent tells her to come and see the Giant.]

‘Certayn~,’ tho said the knyght, ‘That theffe I saw to nyght, Here be-side a sla{d}e. 1660 He was a ferly freke in ffyght, With hym faught a yong knyght, Ech on other laid good l{a}de; Me thought weƚƚ, as he stode, He was of the fend{us} blood, 1665 So Rude was he made. Dame, yf thou leve not me, [1680] Com~ nere, and thou shalt se, Which of hem ab{a}de.’

[Linenotes: 1660. _slate_ or _flate_ MS. 1663. _lode_ MS. 1669. _abode_ MS.]

(144)

[Sidenote: The Norwegian Princess sees the Giant’s corpse, and praises his slayer.]

Blith was that lady bryght 1670 For to se that {selly} sight: With the knyght went she. Whan she cam, where the Geaunt lay, ‘Sir,’ she said, ‘p{ar}maffay I wott weƚƚ, it is he. 1675 Other he was of god aƚƚ-myght Or seynt George, oure lady knyȝt~, [1690] That there his bane hath be. Yf eny cryston~ man smyte hym down~, He is worthy to haue renown~ 1680 Thorough oute aƚƚ crystiaunte.’

[Linenote: 1671. _selly_] om. MS.]

[Headnote: TORRENT RESCUES THE PRINCESS OF NORWAY.]

(145)

[Sidenote: She tells Torrent that her Father gave her, as his ransom, to the Giant.]

‘I haue wonder,’ said the knyght, ‘How he gate the, lady bryght, Fro my lord the kyng.’ ‘Sir,’ she said, ‘verament, f. 104a. 1685 As my fader on huntyng went Erly in a mornyng, [1700] For{e} his men pursued a dere, To his casteƚƚ, that stondith here, That doth my hondys wryng, 1690 This Giaunt hym toke, wo he be! For his love he gevith hym~ me, He wold none other thinge.’

[Linenote: 1688. _For_ MS.]

(146)

Forth she brought bred and wyne, Fayn~ he was for to dyne . . . . . . 1695 This knyght made noble chere, Though that he woundid were [1710] With the Geaunt strong.

(147)

[Sidenote: Torrent takes her away. Torrent longs for Desonell. The Norwegian Princess sees her Father.]

Sir Torrent dwellid no lenger thare, Than~ he myȝt away fare 1700 With that lady bryght. ‘Now, I{es}u, that made heƚƚ, Send me on lyve to Desoneƚƚ, That I my trouth to plight!’ Tho sye they be a forest syde 1705 Men~ of armes ffaste ride On coursers comly dight. [1720] The lady said: ‘So mvst I thee, It is my fader, is com for me, With the Geaunt to ffyght.’ 1710

[Headnote: TORRENT IS WELCOMD BY THE KING OF NORWAY.]

(148)

[Sidenote: Torrent is recognised]

An harood said anon~ right: ‘Yon I se an armed knyght, And no squier, but hym~ one: He is so {big} of bone & blood, He is the Geaunt, be the Rode!’ 1715 Som~ seith, he riduth vppon~. ‘Nay,’ said the kyng, ‘verament, f. 104b. [1820] It is the knyght, that I after sent, I thanke god and seynt Iohñ, For the Geaunt slayn~) hath he 1720 And wonne my dought{er}, weƚƚ is me! Aƚƚ his men are {a}t{o}ne!’

[Linenotes: 1714. _big_] _long_ MS. 1722. _at._] _tane_ MS.]

(149)

[Sidenote: and welcomd by the King of Norway. His wounds are drest.]

Wott ye weƚƚ, with Ioy and blis Sir Torent there recevid ys, As doughty man~ of dede. 1725 The kyng and other lordys gent Said, ‘Welcom~, s{ir} Torent, [1830] In to this vncouth {thede}!’ In to a state they hym~ brought, Lechis sone his woundis sought; 1730 They said, so god hem spede, Were there no lyve but ane, His liffe they wyƚƚ not vndertane, For no gold ne ffor mede.

[Linenote: 1728. _thede_] _lond_ MS.]

[Headnote: PRINCESS GENDRES. TORRENT STAYS A YEAR IN NORWAY.]

(150)

[Sidenote: The Princess claims Torrent as her husband.]

The lady wist not or than~, 1735 That he was hurt, that gentilman~, And sith she went hym tyƚƚ; [1840] She sought his wound{us} and said thare: ‘Thou shalte lyve and welfare, Yf the no-thing evyƚƚ! 1740 My lord the kyng hath me hight, That thou shalt wed me, s{ir} knyght, The fforward ye to fulle ffyƚƚ.’ ‘Damyseƚƚ, loo here my hond: And I take eny wyffe in this lond, 1745 It shaƚƚ be at thy wyƚƚ!’

(151)

[Sidenote: Her name is Gendres. Torrent stays 12 months in Norway.]

Gendres was that ladyes name. [1850] The Geaunt{es} hede he brought hame, And the dragons {he brought}. f. 105a. Mene myght here a myle aboute, 1750 How on the dede hedys they did shoute, For the shame, that they hem~ wrought, Both with dede and with tong Fyfte on the hedys dong, That to the ground they sought. 1755 Sir Torrent dwellid thare Twelfe monythis and mare, [1860] That ffurther myȝt he nought.

[Linenotes: 1749. _he br._] _also_ MS. 1752. _they_] _had_ add. MS.]

(152)

[Sidenote: The King of Norway sends Torrent’s false Squires to sea, where all drown, save one.]

The kyng of Norway said: ‘Nowe, Fals thevis, woo worth you, 1760 Ferly soteƚƚ were ye: Ye said, the knyght wold not com~: Swith oute of my kyngdome, Or hangid shaƚƚ ye be!’ His squiers, that fro hym~ fled, 1765 With sore strokys are they spred Vppon the wanne see, [1870] And there they drenchid euery man~, Saue one knave, that to lond cam~, And woo be-gone is he. 1770

[Headnote: DESONELL IS NEAR CHILD-BEARING.]

(153)

[Sidenote: He takes the news to the King of Portugal, and tells Desonell that Torrent is in Norway.]

The child, to lond that god sent, In Portyngale he is lent, In a riche town~, That hat{h} hight be her day, And euer shaƚƚ, as I you say, 1775 The town~ of Peron~. By-fore the kyng he hym sett, [1880] ‘Fuƚƚ weƚƚ thy men~, lord, the grett, And in the see {did} they drown.’ Desoneƚƚ said: ‘Where is Torent?’ 1780 ‘In Norway, lady, verament.’ f. 105b. On sownyng feƚƚ she down~.

[Linenotes: 1774. _hatt_ (!) MS. 1778. _the_] _they_ MS. 1779. _did_] _are_ MS. _drowned_ MS.]

(154)

[Sidenote: She swoons, and folk see she is big with child. The King of Portugal declares he’ll send Desonell and her Bastard to sea.]

As she sownyd, this lady myld, Men myȝt se tokenyng of her child, Steryng on~ her right syde. 1785 Gret Ruth it was to teƚƚ, How her maydens on~ her feƚƚ, [1890] Her to Couer and to hide. Tho the kyng said: ‘My dought{er}, do way! By god, thy myrth is gone for aye, 1790 Spousage wyƚƚ thou none {bi}de! There fore thou shalt in to the see And that Bastard with-in the, To lerne you ffor to ride.’

[Linenote: 1791. _bide_] _lede_ MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL BEARS TWINS TO TORRENT.]

(155)

[Sidenote: His Earls and the Queen pray for mercy for Desonell.]

Erlis and Barons, that were good, 1795 By-fore the kyng knelid and stode For that lady free. [1900] The quene, her moder, on knees feƚƚ, ‘For I{es}u is love, that harood heƚƚ, Lord, haue mercy on~ me! 1800 That ylke dede, that she hath done, It was with an Erlis sonne, Riche man~ i-nough is he; And yf ye wyƚƚ not let her lyve, Right of lond ye her yeve, 1805 Tiƚƚ she delyu{er}d be!’

(156)

[Sidenote: She is delivered of 2 male children like Torrent. Her Father says she shall be sent out to sea.]

Thus the lady dwellith there, [1910] Tyll that she delyu{er}d were Of men~ children~ two; In all poyntes they were gent, 1810 And like they were to s{ir} Torent; For his love they sufferid woo. f. 106a. The kyng said: ‘So mut I thee, Thou shalte in-to the see With oute wordys moo. 1815 Euery kyngis dought{er} ffer and nere, At the shaƚƚ they lere, [1920] Ayen~ the law to do.’

[Linenotes: 1807. _Thus the_] so F. VII; _This_ MS. 1808. _Tyll_] so F. VII; om. MS. 1810. _all_] so F. VII; om. MS.]

(157)

[Sidenote: She is led from his land. The Queen bewails her daughter’s fate. Desonell is sent to sea.]

Gret ruth it was to se, Whan they led that lady ffree 1820 Oute of her faders lond. The quene wexid tho nere wood For her doughter, that gentiƚƚ ffode, And knyghtis stode wepand; A cloth of silke gan they ta 1825 And p{ar}tyd it be-twene hem twa, Therin they were wonde. Whan~ they had shypped that lady y{i}ng, [1930] An hunderid feƚƚ in sownyng At Peron~ on~ the sond. 1830

[Linenotes: 1827. so F. VII; om. MS. 1828. _had sh._] so F. VII; _clepud_ MS. _yeng_Â MS.]

[Headnote: DESONELL IS SENT OUT TO SEA. SHE REACHES LAND.]

(158)

[Sidenote: She prays to Christ for her children.]

Whan that lady was downe fall, On Iesu Cryste dyd she call; Down~ knelid that lady cle{n}e: ‘Rightfull god, ye me sende Some good londe, on to lende, 1835 That my chyldren may crystonyd bene!’ She said, ‘Knyghtis and ladyes gent, Grete weƚƚ my lord, s{ir} Torrent, Yeff ye hym~ euer sene!’ The wynd Rose ayen~ the nyght, 1840 Fro lond it blew that lady bryght [1941] Vppon the see so grene.

[Linenotes: 1831 f.] so F. VII; om. MS. 1833. _clene_] _clere_ MS. 1834 f.] so F. VII; _Iesu Cryste, that com vp here On this strond, as I wenyd_Â MS. 1836. _my ch._] so F. VII; _we_ MS.]

(159)

[Sidenote: She and they reach land. Desonell stills her crying child,]

Wyndes and weders haue her drevyn~, Þat in a f{o}rest she is revyn~, There wyld beestis were; 1845 The see was eb, and went her ffroo, And lefte her and her children~ two f. 106b. Alone with-oute ffere. Her one child woke and be-gan~ to wepe, The lady a-woke oute of her slepe 1850 And said: ‘Be stiƚƚ, my dere, [1951] I{es}u Cryst hath sent vs lond; Yf there be any cryston man~ nere hond, We shaƚƚ haue som socoure here.’

[Linenote: 1844. _forest_] so F. VII; _ftrest_ MS. _she is_] so F. VII; _be they_ MS.]

[Headnote: A GRIFFIN CARRIES OFF ONE OF DESONELL’S BOYS.]

(160)

[Sidenote: goes up a mountain,]

The carefuƚƚ lady was fuƚƚ blith, 1855 Vp to lond she went swith, As fast as euer she myght. Tho the day be-gan~ to spryng, Foules a-Rose and mery gan syng Delicious notys on~ hight. 1860 To a mowntayn went that lady ffree: [1961] Sone was she warr~ of a Cite With towrus ffeyre and bryght. There fore, i-wys, she was fuƚƚ fayn~, She sett her down~, as I herd sayn~, 1865 Her two children~ ffor to dight.

(161)

[Sidenote: and finds an Arbour there. A Griffin carries off one of her boys. She puts the other down,]

Vppon~ the low the lady ffound An Erber wrought w{i}t{h} mann{us} hond, With herbis, that were good. A Grype was in~ the mowntayn~ wonne, 1870 A way he bare her yong son~ [1971] Ou{er} a water fflood, Over in to a wyldernes, There seynt Antony ermet w{e}s, There as his chapeƚƚ stode. 1875 The other child down~ gan~ she ly, And on the ffoule did shoute & crye, f. 107a. That she was nere hond wood.

[Linenotes: 1874. _was_ MS. 1876. _ly_] _lay_ MS.]

[Headnote: A LEOPARD CARRIES OFF DESONELL’S 2ND BOY.]

(162)

[Sidenote: and sorrows.]

Vp she rose ageyn~ the rough~, With sorofuƚƚ hert and care Inough~, 1880 Carefuƚƚ of blood and bone . . . . . . . [1981] She sye, it myght no better be, She knelid down~ vppon~ her kne, And thankid god and seynt Iohn~.

(163)

[Sidenote: A leopard takes her other boy away.]

There come a libard vppon~ his pray, 1885 And her other child bare away, She thankid god there And his moder Mary bryght. This lady is lefte alone ryght: The sorow she made there . . . . . 1890

(164)

[Sidenote: The King of Jerusalem sees the leopard and child.]

That she myght no further ffare: [1991] ‘Of one poynt,’ {she sayd}, ‘is my care, As I do now vnderstond, So my children~ crystenyd were, Though they be with beest{es} there, 1895 Theyre liffe is in godd{us} hond.’ The kyng of Ierusalem~ had bene At his brothers weddyng, I wene, That was lord of aƚƚ that lond. As he com homward on his way, 1900 He saw where the liberd lay [2001] With a child pleyand.

[Linenote: 1892. _she s._] om. MS.]

(165)

[Sidenote: Each child has one of Torrent’s rings. The King’s men kill the Leopard,]

Torrent had yeve {her} ring{es} two, And euery child had one of tho, Hym~ with aƚƚ to saue. 1905 The kyng said: ‘Be Mary myld, Yonder is a liberd w{i}t{h} a child, A mayden~ or a knave.’ Tho men~ of armes theder went, f. 107b. Anon~ they had theyre hors spent, 1910 Her guttys oute she Rave. [2011] For no stroke wold she stynt; Tiƚƚ they her slew w{i}t{h} speris dynt, The child myght they not haue.

[Linenote: 1903. _her_] _his lady_ MS.]

[Headnote: HE (LEOBERTUS) IS ADOPTED BY THE KING OF JERUSALEM.]

(166)

[Sidenote: and take the Child to the King, who christens him ‘Leobertus,’]

Vp they toke the child y{i}ng 1915 And brought it be-ffore the kyng And vndid the swathing band, As his moder be-ffore had done, A gold ryng they ffound sone, Was closud in his hond. 1920 Tho said the kyng of Ierusalem~: [2021] ‘This child is come of gentiƚƚ teme, Where euer this beest hym~ ffond. The boke of Rome berith wytnes, The kyng hym~ namyd Leobertus, 1925 That was hent in hethyn~ lond.

[Linenotes: 1915. _yong_ MS. 1923. _ffound_ MS.]

(167)

[Sidenote: and takes him to Jerusalem.]

Two squiers to the town~ gan~ flyng, And a noryse to the child did bryng, Hym~ to kepe ffrome gr{e}me. He led it in~ to his own~ lond 1930 And told the quene, how he it ffond [2031] By a water streme. Whan~ the lady saw the ryng, She said, with-oute lettyng: ‘This child is com~ of gentiƚƚ teme: 1935 Thou hast none heyre, thy lond to take, For I{es}u love thou {sh}oldist hym~ make Prynce of Ierusalem~.’

[Linenotes: 1929. _grame_ MS. 1937. _woldist_ MS.]

[Headnote: ST. ANTONY GETS THE FIRST BOY FROM THE GRIFFIN.]

(168)

[Sidenote: St. Anthony sees the Griffin and Desonell’s first boy, whom the bird lays at his feet.]

Now, in boke as we rede, As seynt Antony aboute yede, 1940 Byddyng his orysoun~, [2041] Of the gripe he had a sight, f. 108a. How she flew in a fflight, To her birdus was she boun~. Be-twene her clawes she bare a child: 1945 He prayed to god and Mary myld, On lyve to send it down~. That man was weƚƚ with god aƚƚ-myȝt~, At his fote gan~ she light, That foule of gret renown~. 1950

(169)

[Sidenote: St. Antony takes the boy to his Father, the King of Greece.]

Vp he toke the child th{e}re, [2051] To his auter he did it bere, There his chapeƚƚ stode. A knave child there he ffond, There was closud in his hond 1955 A gold ryng riche and good. He bare it to the Cite grett, There the kyng his fader {s}ett As a lord of jentiƚƚ blood, For he wold saue it ffro dede; 1960 A grype flew a-bove his hede [2061] And cryed, as he were wood.